1. Beginnings of Revolution
“The people don’t want bread, they want freedom.”
- Francisco Madero
The Start of the Mexican Revolution

2. Overthrow of the diaz regime
By 1910, Mexico was ripe for revolution
Diaz regime was weak, old
Too many foreign ties – wanted “Mexico for Mexicans” (Diaz’s argument was that foreigners were needed to make Mexico a modern nation, since the Mexicans themselves lacked the skill)
Rising prices and declining real wages caused resentment (few would support Diaz if there was a coup)
Many (including elites) were frustrated with their lack of political influence
Diaz regime never solved Mexico’s problem of disharmony between an antiquated hacienda system and the desire for a modern capitalist nation
Revolution started in 1910 because Diaz couldn’t decide what to do about his succession. (Creelman Interview – Diaz claimed he wouldn’t run in the 1910 election. Big mistake. When he had himself re- elected in 1910 opposition groups formed immediately.)
Overthrow of the diaz regime

3. The revolution broke out under the leadership of Francisco Madero (from northern state of Coahuila).
Didn’t really have any real social or economic program to challenge Diaz’s
Wrote The Presidential Succession of 1910 about Diaz’s fraudulent campaign, the book was a bestseller and the Anti-Diaz Reelection Party nominated him for president
Was arrested by Diaz (along with 6,000 of his supporters), but jumped bail and went to the US, where he issued his Plan of San Luis Potosi
Plan declared the 1910 elections null and void, claimed Madero was the true president and called for an armed rebellion against Diaz (starting in Chihuahua)
The rebels had the advantage of fighting for principles, rather than out of obligation, and this favored Madero and his troops (Pancho Villa was a military stand-out from the beginning)
Francisco Madero

4. Pancho Villa
February 1911: Madero returned to Mexico from the US and represented himself (and Diaz propaganda presented him as) far more revolutionary than he actually was
This laid the foundation for future problems – the revolutionaries thought Madero was more radical than he was and hoped for more – were disappointed
The Mexican Army took his radical talk seriously and refused loyalty
Madero needed a loyal supporter in the north and turned to Pancho Villa – he knew that Villa was a strong leader and that he would never side with the current government. Villa roused rural support in the northern provinces.
April 1911: The revolution had spread to 18 Mexican states

5. Madero Becomes President
The revolution started in Chihuahua in the north, Morelos in the south and quickly gained momentum
Revolts broke out in both rural and urban areas (Zapatistas were mostly rural followers of Emiliano Zapata, who had pledged loyalty to Madero because he supported land reform – mostly indigenous communities fed up with spread of hacienda system)
Madero was not a revolutionary! By signing the Treaty of Cuidad Juarez he agreed that Diaz would be removed from office, but the existing government institutions would not be changed. It was preservation of the status quo.
Diaz resigned and Francisco Leon de la Barra was made interim president. The regime was left largely intact.
October 1911 – Madero is made president.
Madero Becomes President

6. Beginnings of the Revolution
Madero was just as apprehensive as Diaz about Emiliano Zapata and was worried that Zapata’s movement would lead to racial and class conflict.
- particularly concerned that Zapata would unite the Indians and sympathetic mestizos in a genocidal campaign against whites.
- worried that the “anarchy of the masses” could not be contained and would lead to a full-scale social revolution (which it did)
- “Zapatismo” represented class conflict, but in addition the major leaders were opposed to issues such as economic inequities, taxation, conscription and centralized government – considered by many historians to be “non revolutionary rebels”
Beginnings of the Revolution

7. Failure of the Madero Presidency
No real solution to Mexico’s social and economic problems
Not revolutionary- perpetuation of status quo. Madero essentially maintained a democratic façade that was really just controlled by the same elites that had influenced governmental policy under Diaz.
Continuation of the hacienda system and had no real adequate system of land reform (a primary concern for the Mexican people). This lost him the trust of the revolutionaries – particularly Zapata, who turned against Madero and issued the Plan of Ayala.
Plan of Ayala – said all land taken by Diaz would be returned to rightful owners (this allowed the Zapatista movement to spread quickly) and recognizes Pascual Orozco as the leader of the revolution.
Failure of the Madero Presidency

8. Madero assassination and rise of huerta
Revolts and rebellions spread quickly throughout the government
Along with US Ambassador Henry Lane Wilson, General Huerta planned an overthrow of Madero.
Orchestrated the “Ten Tragic Days” of uprisings designed to destabilize the Madero government. It worked.
February 1913 – Madero was forced out of office and Huerta was made the leader of Mexico
Huerta’s power was a return to the Diaz regime. Supporters included:
- aristocracy/landowners
- capitalists/foreign investors
- church
General Victoriano Huerta
Madero assassination and rise of huerta